ravel to israol promotes global, cultural connPction

Taglit-Birthright Israel, an umbrella organization

more at Michigan State University, owns two

that funds and organizes 10-day trips to Israel

College of Social Science, the Office of Study

T-shirts from the Talpiot, an Israeli military unit.

each summer and winter.

Abroad organizes a summer Jewish studies

Zemon, who is neither in the Israeli army nor a

citizen of Israel, was given the shirts by two Israeli

soldiers while swapping stories with them. In

exchange, he gave them each a shirt from Alpha

Epsilon Pi, the Jewish fraternity for which he

currently serves as president.

J

Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center-

Zemon traveled to Israel in May 2008 through

culture, and society of Israel

float in the Dead Sea. They

Israel, as Zemon did.

With the support of MSU Hillel—the Lester and

students study the history,

Aviv. They climb Masada and

who is from Bloomfield Hills. "This experience

effort to keep our respective stories alive."

universities. Participating

the Western Wall, and Tel

connect with their peers in

learn as much as possible about each other in an

Jerusalem, one of Israel's leading

Israel: They visit Jerusalem,

proved to be a profound experience for Zemon,

to our fellow men and women living in Israel to

of the Hebrew University in

a closer relationship with

experience Shabbat and

he says. "We have an obligation to ourselves and

program with the Rothberg International School

On the trip, students develop

Trading stories, as well as shirts, with the Israelis

taught me that we are all one group of people,"

I

Arts and Letters, James Madison College, and

David Zemon, a political science–prelaw sopho-

while earning credit in arts and

humanities and social sciences.

A number of additional

"It is a real thrill to watch them

MSU students share a meal in Israel.

make those connections with Israel," says

opportunities for study abroad

in Israel are available. 0

Cindy Hughey, executive director of MSU Hillel.

Learn more at studyabroad.msu.edu .

Opportunities for extended study in Israel are

For more information about MSU Hillel and

available through MSU's nationally recognized

Taglit-Birthright Israel, e-mail jessica@msuhillel.org

study abroad program. In conjunction with the

or robyn@msuhillel.org .

university's Jewish Studies Program, College of

EU helps new students feet at home

When MSU junior Andrea Rottman first arrived on campus in fall 2007, she

together students at a variety of special events, from the celebration of the

realized that being one of more than 40,000 students provided both

High Holidays to regular Friday night Shabbat dinners held at MSU Hillel—the

opportunities and challenges. "I knew that I needed to find a way to make

Lester and Jewell Morris Hillel Jewish Student Center.

such a large campus seem smaller and feel more like home," she says.

"It breaks down campus—makes it feel a little smaller, a little friendlier, and a

Fortunately for the advertising major from West Bloomfield, students from

little more comfortable," says Cindy Hughey, executive director of MSU Hillel,

MSU's Jewish Student Union (JSU) were in the residence halls on move-in day

which works closely with JSU, helping coordinate programming at the start of

to help her and other new students get settled and get involved. "Having them

the academic year and hosting a brunch for families on move-in day.

there right away was very nice, and it made me feel like I was welcome,"

Rottman says.

Providing Jewish students with opportunities to explore cultural and ethnic

diversity is at the heart of the Jewish Student Union. While new members find

Helping students make connections and feel at home in the large MSU

a sense of belonging in the organization, others value leadership development

community is part of the mission of JSU—one of the largest student

opportunities and experiences that may prove valuable in their careers as well

government–funded organizations on campus. The organization brings

as in their personal and spiritual lives.

Members of the Jewish Student Union welcome new Spartans at the MSU Dairy Store.

Members plan campus social, cultural,

religious, and athletic programs,

which often are joint initiatives with

other campus organizations and offer

opportunities to meet a diverse group

of students who also want to get

involved in the MSU community.

Like Rottman, international relations

senior Geoff Levin, who is from Wheeling,

Illinois, learned about JSU as a freshman

on move-in day and has since held a

number of leadership roles in the

organization, including chair of Israel

Fest. "It felt so good to know that

hundreds of MSU students, both Jewish

and non-Jewish, learned about and

celebrated Israeli culture because of the

work we did," Levin says. 0